# CloudLibrary vs PhDigital Lib

The clearest difference is rating: CloudLibrary at 4.8 against PhDigital Lib's 3.2. CloudLibrary also leads on ratings volume (262K vs 5) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 6 months). PhDigital Lib's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

CloudLibrary holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CloudLibrary has 262K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.

CloudLibrary ships an update every 6 weeks, PhDigital Lib every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CloudLibrary | PhDigital Lib |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (262K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cloudlibrary/id466446054/reviews)** | [3.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phdigital-lib/id1159517053/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **262K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 56.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#45** | — |
| Size | 164 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [OCLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/438286724) | [City of Boerne](https://appshunter.io/developer/649602549) |

## What reviewers say

### CloudLibrary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cloudlibrary/id466446054)

**Currently charting:** #45 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Manage your library account and discover new content. Borrow physical items, access eBooks and audiobooks, and receive helpful reminders. Personalize your reading experience and stay organized with this intuitive library companion.

**Highlights:** Borrow physical and digital items, Access eBooks and Audiobooks, Manage multiple library accounts, Receive due-date reminders, Discover library events, Personalize reading experience

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient access to library books
- 🚀 Wide selection of books
- 👍 Great resource during the pandemic
- 👍 Ability to read/listen on multiple devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🐛 Unreliable page/progress tracking
- 🐛 Inconsistent user experience
- 🐛 Slow performance and loading times
- 🐛 Confusing navigation and interface

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to open/download books
- Losing place in books when reopening app
- Random page skipping and jumps
- Corrupted library data and lost reading history
- Frequent login issues and errors

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved search and browsing functionality
- Better integration with other reading apps (e.g. Kindle)
- Progress tracking and bookmarking improvements
- Option to extend loan periods


### PhDigital Lib

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phdigital-lib/id1159517053)

Access library resources on the go. Search for books, DVDs, audiobooks, and digital titles. Reserve or renew items, browse reading lists, and check event calendars. Connect with the library through social media or direct contact.

**Highlights:** Search library catalog, Reserve and renew items, Browse reading lists, View events calendar, Connect on social media, Contact library directly

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CloudLibrary free?

CloudLibrary is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is PhDigital Lib free?

PhDigital Lib is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, CloudLibrary or PhDigital Lib?

CloudLibrary is rated higher. CloudLibrary averages 4.8 out of 5 from 262K ratings, while PhDigital Lib averages 3.2 from 5 ratings.

### Do CloudLibrary or PhDigital Lib have ads?

Neither CloudLibrary nor PhDigital Lib shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CloudLibrary or PhDigital Lib?

CloudLibrary ships an update every 6 weeks, and PhDigital Lib every 6 months. Most recently, CloudLibrary was updated on October 20, 2026 and PhDigital Lib on October 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*